Sky Sports contributor and Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie has claimed that the plan is for Alfredo Morelos to return to action in time to play some part in the upcoming Champions League qualifiers.
Rangers kick off their 2022/23 campaign this Saturday in the Scottish Premiership curtain-raiser against Livingston before travelling to Belgium to face Union SG in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie.
Morelos missed the back stretch of the most recent campaign due to a thigh injury but still finished as the club’s top scorer in all competitions, finishing with 19 goals.
The 26-year-old sharpshooter has scored 113 goals in 224 appearances for the Light Blues and weighed in with 51 assists since he joined in 2017 – one of which came in his only ever appearance in a Champions League qualifier last season. And while the domestic opener comes too soon, Barrie believes that he could feature in some form during their upcoming European qualifiers.
Speaking on the Rangers Review YouTube channel, he said: “About three or four weeks ago, I was told the hope was to get him in for those European games – whether that’s the home or away tie, I don’t know, but certainly I think Livingston might come just a bit too soon.”
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‘El Buffalo’ took part in the club’s open training session on Monday as he stepped up his recovery and fans will be hoping he is available for the crunch tie on the continent given the huge financial ramifications it has for Rangers.
Ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose said the Colombian ‘knows where the goal is’ and while Antonio Colak, who ironically dumped the Gers out of the qualifiers last season with a brace at Ibrox, has been signed by the club, so having Morelos fit will be a massive boost.
Former striker Gordon Dalziel claims he looks ‘happier’ under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and considering the purple patch that he enjoyed following the Dutchman’s appointment, his return could prove fruitful.